Seeing their dumbfounded expressions, William scratched his head in disbelief.


    "Are you pulling my leg?"


    "Dead serious," George replied, his expression grave.


    "That old fox is as cautious as theye. He hasn''t left hispound in nearly two decades. There''s not a snowball''s chance in hell."


    "That''s not what I meant."


    William''s expression turned strange.


    "I''m saying, if you know it''s impossible, why not choose a different target?"


    "Huh?"


    Both George and Justin were taken aback.


    The two, who had been fixated on this for almost twenty years, stared at each other, their eyes wide with confusion.


    William sighed inwardly, realizing hispanions were utterly single-minded...


    And so, the three of them, arms slung over each other''s shoulders, walked out of the family estate and headed towards Sunshine Manor.


    ...


    Seeing that his children all had their own matters to attend to, Ethan decided to seclude himself within the Death Coffin for cultivation.


    Time held no sway over the ageless cultivator.


    When he finally opened his eyes, years had passed.


    [Year 205 of the ckwood Family]


    [Special Event - Heavenly Path Mystic Sanctuary]


    [The war between Cloudview County and the Druids raged on. As Sunshine Manor''s intrusions into Cloudview County grew bolder, Bryce became increasingly dissatisfied with them. His intelligencework discovered that the legacy of ''Heavenly Path Venerable,'' a Basic Mastery level expert from millennia past, had been unearthed within Sunshine Manor.


    He nned to assemble Azure Cloud''s Psychics topete for the Heavenly Path Venerable''s inheritance.]


    "We ckwoods haven''t even made a move on Sunshine Manor, and you''re already nning to fight them for it," Ethan muttered, stretching his limbs.


    With a flicker, he vanished from his spot.


    At that moment...


    Nathan was still cultivating within his coffin, Lucas was still recovering from his injuries, and Amelia and Julian were as engrossed as ever, either crafting mystical artifacts or concocting potions, their dedication bordering on obsession.


    As for Olivia, after her return, she had been teaching literary cultivation in the city, leaving behind two inherited scriptures, the "Four Seasons Sutra" and the "Mountains and Rivers ssic."


    Meanwhile, within Bryce''s manor, the Psychics who would be embarking on the secret mission to the Heavenly Path Mystic Sanctuary were gathered.


    Within the grand hall stood the four Psychics chosen for the covert operation: Arcane Society''s Chuck, Ghost Eye Demonic Gate''s Patriarch Ralph, Martin family''s Patriarch Will, and Phillips family''s Patriarch Bob.


    Each had reached the peak of the Competent Force level, with Chuck even ranked thirty-ninth on the Pinnacle Apprentice rankings.


    They all possessed their own trump cards.


    As for Patriarch Ralph... having ascended to his current level by consuming cannibalistic pills, it was unclear what gave him the audacity to participate in this contest.


    Bryce, seated within the hall, fixed his gaze upon the nonchnt Daniel, a hint of displeasure in his eyes.


    "Brother Daniel, does the ckwood family have no interest in the Heavenly Path Mystic Sanctuary? Nathan ckwood is more than capable of going toe-to-toe with Mike. If he wished, he could easily secure a ce on the Pinnacle Apprentice rankings. Your second aunt, Amelia, has weathered ny-nine thunder tribtions. "


    "Though she keeps a low profile, she''s undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. And let''s not forget your family''s demonic expert, who waltzes in and out of Druid territory as if it were his own backyard. "


    "Your brother George enjoys the protection of the Azure Cloud Pavilion''s senior members. Any one of them could prove invaluable to our endeavor."


    The ckwoods were exceptional in every way.


    Over the years, they had answered his call, provided him with unwavering support, and genuinely entrusted him, Phillips, with authority.


    Although the ckwoods wielded immense power, their rtionship was one of mutual cooperation and shared sess.


    The only fly in the ointment was their penchant for secrecy and their reluctance to fullymit.


    "Bryce, you''re well aware of our family''s circumstances," Daniel replied with a wry smile.


    "My grandparents are under constant surveince by the Druid Apostle Mike. They can''t so much as breathe without him knowing. My father is still recovering from his injuries and can''t even leave the infirmary. My second aunt wouldn''t dare leave her workshop. "


    "Lord of Frenzied Blood is out of the question; the Druids have been on high alert all these years precisely because of him. As for my nephew, I haven''t the faintest idea where he is. Tell you what, I''ll reach out to my brother who''s currently at Sunshine Manor. Would that be satisfactory?"


    Daniel wasn''t being disingenuous.


    None of them could afford to make a move.


    Otherwise, he was certain that the moment they stepped foot outside Azure Cloud, Mike would lead the Druids in a full-scale invasion of Cloudview County.


    Only they knew that the Druids'' true fear wasn''t Bryce, but the ckwoods.


    Bryce frowned.


    He was generally cognizant of the ckwoods'' predicament.


    He waved his hand dismissively.


    "Very well, let it be. As for your brother... what was his name again?"


    "Marcus," Daniel replied, a hint of annoyance in his tone.


    "Right, ckwood Marcus, the Sky Sect''s Sect Master."


    Bryce continued, "There''s no need to trouble him. He''s still at the peak of the Developing Skill level, a Pinnacle Apprentice who has yet to make his grand entrance. Leading the Sky Sect in their precarious position within Sunshine Manor is already a tall order. Let''s not add to his burdens."


    "..."


    Daniel chose not to dignify that with a response.


    Over the years, he had made a conscious effort to avoid conflict with Bryce and hade to understand him to some extent.


    Chapter Find:


    The old man was indeed a capable Duke, possessing the qualities of a true leader and a benevolent heart.


    The only chink in his armor was his excessive kindness.


    Despite the ckwoods'' immense power and prestige, he harbored no ill will towards them and never resorted to subterfuge.


    As he often proimed, being born into a position of power meant that wielding authority was second nature.


    The sword of a gentleman, which he held, was meant to be pointed at his enemies, not his allies.


    Bryce turned his gaze towards the four Competent Force experts, his expression solemn.


    "Everyone, the Heavenly Path Mystic Sanctuary presents a golden opportunity, but it is not without its perils. I implore you to look after one another and present a united front."


    The four nodded curtly and made their way out of the grand hall.


    Outside, Jessica, d in armor, had been waiting patiently.


    Daniel nodded at Jessica and handed her a Storage Ring.


    "Go. Larry will oversee the Azure Cloud army for now. You take Thomas and the others."


    "Yes, Uncle!"


    Jessica bowed slightly, her hand resting on the Storage Ring.


    Inside the Storage Ring, which could only contain inanimate objects, five men and two women, built like bears and d in blood-red armor with demonic markings on their faces, were cursing up a storm.


    "Who in the bloody hells packs people into a Storage Ring?!"


    "Jessica, let us out! Even demons have the right to walk under the sun! Who''s afraid of those self-righteous Daoists?!"


    "Shut your traps! Hurry up, let''s get to the Heavenly Path Mystic Sanctuary! That old fart Bryce, saying my brother is ipetent, I''ll show him ipetent! I''m going to loot the entire Heavenly Path Mystic Sanctuary!"


    ...


    Meanwhile, at the Sunshine Manor''s Sky Sect...


    Located in a remote and deste mountainous region, the sect was far removed from civilization.


    When Marcus first arrived with five thousand Sky Sect disciples, they faced constant oppression from the various sects and families of Sunshine Manor.


    Recruiting disciples was but a pipe dream; they were fortunate if their elders and disciples weren''t driven out.


    Even resources had to be provided by the ckwoods, barely enough to keep the sect afloat.


    They lived under the constant threat of covetous forces.


    Standing atop the sect''s gate, Marcus held his whisk and the rotating Sky Pce, the Forebearer''s Psychic Position flickering beside him.


    He gazed into the distance.


    "The Heavenly Path Mystic Sanctuary, a proving ground for all below the Basic Mastery level, a crucible where Sunshine Manor''s geniuses sh! Forebearer, bless your descendant. I shall bear witness to who reigns supreme among the non-Basic Mastery experts of Sunshine Manor!"